Ancient temples of NE region to be linked with Cultural Circuit

New Delhi, January 13: The Government has a grand plan to link the North Eastern pilgrimage centres with the Hindu Circuits which have origins in the mythology and has planned to reassert the Hindu roots of the Northeast states.

For this, the government has prepared a road map where all the pligrimage centres will be connected to one another and that the North East will stand off for it's mythological treasures. According to the plan, the new Hindu pilgrimage circuit will be linking ancient temples and other places in the region that are mentioned in mythology.

The temples in the Northeast related to the mythology of Krishna will be linked with the established pilgrimage circuit in Mathura, Vrindavan and Gujarat. The Vaishnav tradition of Manipur, Shaiva tradition of Tripura and the three Shakti peeths - Kamakhya in Assam, Jayanti in Meghalaya and Tripura Sundari in Tripura -will also be linked with the overall pilgrimage circuit.

Sources said the Shiva temple at Umananda, the world’s smallest river island in Assam, would also be showcased. According to mythology, Krishna’s consort Rukmini was from a local tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. The state’s pilgrimage site of Parasuram Kund and its old tribes which worship Krishna are also expected to find a place in the new circuit.

Following instructions from the PMO, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma is set to visit the Northeast for 15 days over the next three months, news agency The Sangai Express reported.

According to sources, he has been instructed to spend at least 48 hours at each stop. “I will be going to all the Northeast states. There is huge potential for pilgrimage tourism which needs to be explored and brought to the fore,” Sharma told media.

The BJP-led government, which has earmarked Rs 500 crore for its newly-launched National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation and the creation of new circuits, reportedly wants to showcase the Northeast link when it completes one year in office in May.